Twelve months ago I started looking into the best way to integrate tracking into vulnerable missing person search in the UK. This article is a report of my thoughts and ideas on this subject so far; no doubt they will change over time.

The traditional image of a "tracker" is the Native American scout, perpetuated by film and TV. However, in the UK, our experience in the colonies has meant that we tend to look towards the African continent for our Tracking expertise. Whilst we have a long history of using it in military operations and for wildlife tracking there is little history or experience of its use for missing person search here in the UK.

In one way this is a benefit. We do not have to deal with some of the self-appointed experts of tracking that other countries encounter - believing that tracking is the silver bullet and other SAR efforts just get it their way. However, it also means that we do not really have a way to utilise this extremely powerful tool in the searchers arsenal.

Tracking is a powerful tool. A knowledge of tracking makes you a better searcher. You start to see things differently; seeing the same things as others but understanding the greater meaning of them. A flattening of a piece of ground, a bent blade of grass, a bruised leaf; all have a significance that others might not appreciate.

The question for me though has been how best to use these skills. Should we be looking to train and use tracking teams, or should they be integrated with search teams? When should we use tracking? What training should we do? Here are my thoughts;

1. Trackers must be foot searchers first.

Tracking skills should not be seen as any different from other search techniques like the search cube and purposeful wandering. There is therefore no need for new organisations, badges and logos for tracking. All trackers used in the UK should be part of existing search teams - be they MR, ALSAR or Coastguard!

2. Trackers should be integrated into search teams on most searches.

Taking my lead here from Ian 'Max' Maxwell's Phase methodology. Search managers should know the tracking skills in their units. Where possible a tracker should be put in each team; to advise the team leader on any track or spoor found, to examine track traps for evidence and, if tracks are found, to mark, record and follow-up on them. Team Leaders should, as they are already on UKLSI TL courses, be taught about track traps and how to use tracking advice in their team. But the tracker in the team is first and foremost a foot search resource for that team leader and search manager.

I would also like to see the teaching of tracking skills to all dog support personnel. It has been said many times that this combination of dog search and tracking skills is one of the most powerful tools in SAR, Max repeated it a few days ago at UKLSI and Bob Koester et al.'s  book on the subject gives some excellent tips on how this can be achieved.

3. Track Training needs to be improved and extended

Track awareness training should be taught regularly to all SAR volunteers. Those that do want to become trackers must practice this skill after training. At present the opportunities for this do not exist within the UK outside a few commercial outlets. Without this training and experience tracking will not develop. It must be added, however, that this training is additional to their standard SAR training.

4. Scenarios for Tracking Teams

One or two operational scenarios cry out for specialist tracking team response. At present few teams have the required skill level in their teams to put out an effective tracking team, but as tracking skills and training improves I foresee a future where this might be possible. Teams might have several trackers who take it upon themselves to keep their skills sharp and train together to be able to work well as a tracking team.

The classic example - the despondent's car parked in a woodland car park. If your team has enough capable trackers this is when to deploy them as a tracking team.

I would be tempted to deploy a team packed with trackers and track aware searchers to the car and surrounding area anyway, whether as a tracking team or a search team who are skilled in cutting for sign. They can then swap from standard search to tracking and sign cutting and back again as the search, terrain and situation develops.

These are a few first thoughts anyway. Why not give your view...